Evaluation of the Anti-Obesity and Metabolic-Modulating Effects of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Powder in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Experimental Rats

Obesity is a major metabolic disorder associated with disturbances in lipid and glucose metabolism and alterations in liver and kidney functions. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity and metabolic-modulating effects of dietary baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit powder in high-fat diet-induced obese rats. Twenty-four adult white rats were randomly divided into four groups, with six rats in each group. The negative control group received a basal diet, whereas the positive control group consisted of obese rats. The third and fourth groups consisted of obese rats supplemented with baobab fruit powder at dietary levels of 5% and 7%, respectively. The experimental diets were administered for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses, including blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and kidney function parameters. Heart tissues were also collected for histopathological examination. Dietary supplementation with baobab fruit powder resulted in favorable improvements in the biochemical parameters evaluated in obese rats compared with the positive control group. Improvements were observed in blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzyme activities, and kidney function parameters. Histopathological examination of the heart tissue also demonstrated beneficial changes in the baobab-supplemented groups. These effects may be associated with the bioactive constituents of baobab, particularly its phenolic compounds and other biologically active components, which may contribute to antioxidant activity and the regulation of metabolic processes. Overall, the findings suggest that dietary baobab fruit powder may exert beneficial anti-obesity and metabolic effects and may have potential as a natural dietary intervention for improving obesity-associated biochemical and histopathological alterations.